I started EM2WL about six weeks ago. Have been increasing my calories and now eating around 2500 a day. The scale has stopped going down, but I seem to be losing inches at about the same rate as when I was eating low calorie. I don't think that should even be possible! Yesterday my husband said I was a black hole...my mass stays the same but I just keep shrinking. LOL.

Jennbecca33, thanks for being such a great resource for all of us.

I'll add a few more to the above NSV, because I know what it's like to start this and be scared to death that it will backfire. Anything I can do to help others feel comfortable moving forward, I will!

After losing 45 pounds on a low calorie diet and then stalling for 6 months I was desperate. I felt I was doing everything right (tracking every calorie, exercising, etc>). My doctor didn't know what to tell me and the only help I got was from a nutritionist who said, vaguely, "maybe you should eat more". So I began researching and found EM2WL. I started upping my calories in January and have been doing NROLFW since February, with three weeks off because I thought I hurt my back. Turns out it was just some nasty trigger points. A lacrosse ball and foam roller later and I'm good as new.

My weight has very slowly decreased. I know this because I actually graphed the last two months and added a trend line to help me see it. Otherwise it just looked like it was jumping around the same few pounds. However, the real changes have been off the scale and a bit off the chart! I've lost 7 inches total since January, which I think is great, considering the fact that I've only been lifting heavy since late February AND took a few weeks off. My wobbly arms aren't wobbly anymore, there are some serious muscles in my calves, my butt is completely different (in a good way!), and the dreaded belly fat (that stuff above your belly button that comes from stress, etc.) is significantly down (now I kinda wish I had included it in my standard measurements). So much so that I was looking in the mirror recently and realized my belly looked the way it used to when I would stand my straightest and suck it in....on a good day. Except, I wasn't holding it in and I was standing straight naturally, because my core is so much stronger.

And the compliments! It's been so much fun to suddenly hear that the changes are visible to others besides myself.

But the best part is that I feel strong! I feel like a badass lifting weights in the "boys room" (free weight room). I know this is a lifestyle that is longterm. My stress levels are down, I look forward to the gym, and I can't wait to see the changes to come! Because I KNOW there will be changes, ones that I create from hard work and good nutrition.

So there you go. A few months in and I have truly drunk the Kool Aid.

Thanks to all the EM2WL folks. Y'all rock!

NSV: Enjoying food so much more than six months prior to EM2WL! Increased strength in weight lifting! Fitting into two pairs of my smaller pants! Better attitude about nutrition.

My NSV for the week is being able to squat 100lbs after 7 weeks of strong lifts and 3 weeks EM2LW. In my taekwondo sessions I sparred with a man a whole foot taller than me, danced around him and got him with combination of kicks. I'm not intimidated by him anymore!

My NSV happened yesterday. I've been doing Stronglifts 5x5 for 6 months while eating at a deficit. I started at 1200 & increased to 1350 because I felt weak and my lifts were suffering. I lost 10 lbs and 5.5 inches from March1-April 1. I found EM2WL and increased up to 2000. Lifts have been great and yesterday I saw how much stronger and more fit I've become. My husband and 3 yr old and I went for a hike. We lost the trail we were supposed to stay on and got way off track. We went miles out of our way and our 3 yr old didn't want to walk anymore. She was a trooper for much of the hike, though. I ended up carrying her on my back for a couple of miles, without a carrier of any sort. She weighs about 30lbs. She wasn't able to hold onto my husband's broader back and he had the backpack and dog, that's how I ended up carrying her.I remember last year I couldn't carry her (she weighed less, of course) for very long without getting totally winded. I felt great yesterday! I carried her up over rocks and down twisty trails.

Huge NSV...for me anyways!

So I just took my measurements this morning. I've lost 12.5" so far - see below for the breakdown. I started Strong Lifts in February doing 2 sessions/week and increased to 3 sessions/week about 4 weeks ago. I also walk about 30 min. about 5 times per week, very little cardio outside of that.

In January, I had set my calorie goal to 1300 calories plus 50% of exercise calories. A few weeks ago I set my calorie goal to 1575-1675 calories (15%-10% deficit from TDEE) including my activity level/exercise calories. So I'm eating more and looking like I weigh less. This part is huge for me and should be key to anyone considering eating more...according to my measurements, I should weigh about 7 lbs less according to my last weight loss journey. This is because my BF% is dropping and my lean body mass is increasing.

Couldn't be happier from seeing the inches lost so far, especially with how discouraged I've been on my weight going up. I've gained about 2.5 lbs in the last 2.5 weeks since EM2WL, which I'm sure some of it is water weight but with my BF% going down, I'm really happy with the progress. Looking forward to my measurements in a few weeks!

Height: 5'4.5" Age 32
Weight 151.8 / 152.8 - not really in the right direction but...
BF% (est.) 29.6 / 25.3 - this works for me!
Neck 12.5 / 12.5
Waist 29.5 / 28 (-1.5)
Navel 31 / 30 (-1.0)
Hips 38.5 / 37 (-1.5)
Butt 40.5 / 38.5 (-2.0)
Bust 37/35 (-2.0)
Ribcage 32 / 28.5 (-3.5)
Thigh 24.5 / 23.5 (-1.0)
Bicep 11.5 / 11.5 (0)
Total Inches Lost -12.5" - whoo hoo!
Total Weight Lost +1.0 lbs

SL 5x5 Working Weights - Feb / Apr
Squats 40# / 70#
Bench 30# / 60#
Row 40# / 60#
OHP 30# / 40#
DL 50# / 70#

Awesome